Top 15 Places To Visit In West Bengal

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West Bengal, situated in eastern India, is a land with a rich diversity. Home to different civilizations and known for its cultural diversity, West Bengal has a great history too. Bengal is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. Thanks to its geographical location stretching from the great Himalayas to Bay of Bengal, the state has spectacular landscapes to captivate your souls. Here are the top 15 destinations in West Bengal.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport handles both domestic and international flights. It is the main corridor for entering North East and countries like Hong Kong, Bangkok etc. Therefore, it has an excellent domestic and international connectivity.

Rail

Kolkata has a wide railway network and has the largest rail network in India. It is the headquarters for two railway divisions–Southeastern and Eastern Railway. Howrah Junction railway station (HWH) and Sealdah railway station (SDAH) are the two main railway stations in the city.

Road

The many private run and several state run buses by many government agencies like Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC). Kolkata has an extensive road network, due to its status as a major metro city and an economic hub. Buses connect it to all major cities in neighbouring states.

Dharmanagar is the second largest city in Tripura and one of the most beautiful cities in India. It has a rich past, which is evident from the historic monuments and palaces found here. If you love history and are passionate about visiting ancient places, you would love your visit to Dharmanagar, where historic ruins take you to the past. Here are the top destinations in Dharmanagar.

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is the largest metropolitan city in India. This ancient city is considered to be inhabited for more than two thousand years and it is evident from its rich cultural background and diverse ethnicity. Here are some important tourist attractions in Kolkata.

Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport and handles mainly domestic flights from all major cities of India. It also has a few flights to Bangkok and Bhutan through Druk Air. Darjeeling is 68 km away from Bagdogra Airport and a road journey between them will take about 2 h 27 min.

Rail

New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station (NJP) is the closest railway station from Darjeeling about 72.0 km (2 hrs 36 min) away. It is connected to all major cities of India.

Road

The many private run and several state run buses by many government agencies which connect Darjeeling to other parts of West Bengal and even to neighbouring states like Sikkim.

Darjeeling is the most perfect place to unwind on your holiday. Snow clad mountains, lush greenery and the stunning views of Himalayas make the place a heaven on earth. The entire land is colorful and picture perfect with green tea leaves, red rhododendrons, white magnolias, birds of different species and snow-covered peak of Kanchenjunga. Here are the top destinations in Darjeeling.

Places To Visit

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Singalila National Park

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Tiger Hill

Observatory Hill

Happy Valley Tea Estate

Japanese Peace Pagoda

Neora Valley National Park

Mirik

Rock Garden

Trekking, water rafting and bird watching are some of the activities you can involve yourself in on your tour to Darjeeling.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Airport is the nearest airport with the best international and domestic connectivity. A road journey from here to Bankura will take about 4 h 24 min (221 km).

Rail

Bankura Junction (BQA) in the city is connected to cities in West Bengal. It has a good connectivity to the rest of Indian states through a stopover at Howrah Junction railway station (HWH) and Sealdah railway station (SDAH) in Kolkata.

Road

The many private run and several state run buses by many government agencies which connect Bankura to other parts of West Bengal and even to neighbouring states like Jharkhand.

Bankura is on the west of the state of West Bengal. Apart from the historic side, Bankura has an artistic face too. It has tourist attractions that boast of its historical importance and destinations that challenge you to trek and hike. Here are some leading destinations in Bankura.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Airport is the nearest airport with the best international and domestic connectivity. A road journey from here to Midnapore will take about 2 hrs 48 min (129 km).

Rail

Midnapore Railway Station (MDN) in the city is connected to cities in West Bengal. It has a good connectivity to the rest of Indian states as many expressway trains have a stoppage here.

Road

The many private run and several state run buses by many government agencies which connect Midnapore to other parts of West Bengal and even to neighbouring states like Jharkhand.

The town Midnapore, also called as Medinipur, is situated in the west of Medinipur District. It is a famous pilgrim centers as it is home to some ancient temples and mosques. Having contributed many freedom fighters for independence, the land has monuments built in memory of the war heroes. Here are some attractions in Midnapore.

Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport and handles mainly domestic flights from all major cities of India. It also has a few flights to Bangkok and Bhutan through Druk Air.

Rail

Siliguri Junction railway station (SGUJ) in the city is connected to cities in West Bengal. It has a good connectivity to the rest of Indian states as many expressway trains have a stoppage here.

Road

The many private run and several state run buses by many government agencies which connect Siliguri to other parts of West Bengal and even to neighbouring states like Jharkhand.

Siliguri is a picturesque location that offers spectacular views of Himalayas. It is famous for tea and timber. Thick forest on the foothills and the tea gardens offer amazing views of the land. Given below are some important tourist attractions in Siliguri.

Murshidabad is home to various races and religions. It is located on River Bhagirathi banks. The history of the city dates back to pre-historic times. The city was at its height of glory in the past and it was Bengal’s capital in before the British rulers shifted the capital to Kolkata. Given below are the important tourist places in Murshidabad.

Hooghly is an interesting tourist destination for various reasons. It is considered sacred as it is where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sarada Devi stayed for many years; it has historic significance as it bears the influences of Portuguese, French and the Dutch. Here are some important tourist destinations in Hooghly.

Kalimpong, the hill station in lower Himalayas, is situated at an altitude of 1250 meters. The view of Himalayas from Kalimpong is amazing. The tranquility of the land attracts tourists in great numbers. It is famous for traditional handicrafts, orchids and nurseries. The tourist attractions in Kalimpong include the following.

Kamarpukur, a village in Hooghly district, bears evidences of ancient elements. A visit to the land with ancient buildings, temples and tanks will give you an insight into its glorious past. This beautiful village is considered sacred as it was where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was born. Here Jaare some important tourist destinations in Kamarpukur.

Bishnupur is famous for ancient temples belonging to the 15th century. Art and culture flourished here; particularly, the Malla rulers were great patronizers of paintings and music. The temples here stand proof of the rich architecture of the past. Here are some top destinations in Bishnupur.

Jalpaiguri enjoys excellent topographical advantage that it receives many tourists who are passionate about enjoying the bliss of nature. Since it is easy to access Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas from here, you can find tourism flourishing here. Given below are important tourist destinations in Jalpaiguri.

Malda lies at the confluence of River Mahananda and Kalindi. Like many other places in West Bengal, this town too has its share in history. Called as English Bazaar in the past, Malda gives you a clear picture of its architectural splendor in the past. Here are the tourist destinations in Malda.

Cooch Behar, a district in Jalpaiguri, is situated in the north-eastern part of West Bengal. To its south and west lies the Indo-Bangladesh border. The land still has the rich influences of the Mughal era. It is not only famous for the ancient monuments but it is also known for huge water bodies. Here are some important destinations in Cooch Behar.

Called as the ‘Land of the brave’, Birbhum was a land where many brave kings ruled. The historical importance of the place is evident from the remnants of the civilizations that lived here. The land of red soil houses some of the famous tourist destinations.

Barrackpore, the land rich in natural beauty, is of high historical importance too. It was here where the famous Sepoy Mutiny originated. Its prominent role in freedom fight has earned Barrackpore a special place and it is frequented by tourists in great numbers. Here are the top destinations in the land.

Places To Visit

Mangal Pandey Park

Gandhi Museum

Jawahar Kunj Garden

Gandhi Ghat

Bartholomew Cathedral

Indira Gandhi Water Treatment Plant

Kali Temple

Tarakeswar Temple

The attractions of West Bengal are more, there are more beautiful towns like Mirik in West Bengal. Be it the natural beauty or the rich history, the state has more to offer. I would be glad to have information on other tourist attractions in West Bengal to update my humble attempt.

19 comments

Really you’ve covered most of the places. I too am a writer but I promote places under sustainable livelihood, so rural tourism is my niche..you can certainly take a look at my blog for sch rural destination and some of the most innovative travel plans of North Bengal.

It’s a pity that you left places like Digha, Mandarmani which are the biggest crowd pullers in Bengal. There are lots of places that you have listed might seek attention of historians, but i doubt how many people might get interested in. Anyways, you have done a great job in listing all these places.

Great job done..! I am a travel and tourism student and keep searching on internet on different places for making itineraries when I visited your page I got all I wanted in one place and that’s very good for me thanks a lot . This help me a lot.

Can I have the tour operators list for covering the places from Kolkata to Darjeeling. Kalimpong bagdogra shilling and soliciting. The best period to visit west Bengal may also be intimated
My age is 64 and hence a reliable tour operator will be of immense help to me.

Your information are very exiting but by mistake you have mixed the tourist spots of Bishnupur town in West Bengal with the Bishnupur situated in Manipur because keibul lamjao national park is located in Manipur.

Very good article admin. This article helps me to better understand about travel and tourist places because I am doing study regarding tourism. I hope you will keep adding something new even further about tourism.